DefSound in my ears

Loving everything about this video...the threads, the tune and the vinyl collection

Beatboxer extraordinaire

It's been so long since I last blogged that I'd actually forgotten how to use the Blogger CMS - haaa! Anyway, enough of my ramblings. Here's a little taste of some fresh and exciting music I recently stumbled upon from Taylor McFerrin, a beatboxer blending some cool broken beat and electro vibes. Glad that the strong musical genes have passed down the blood line...

Minimarket: Sunshine on a rainy day

It's hard to be positive about rain in London in the middle of August, but it can only mean one thing...Autumn is on its way, bringing with it the hottest season when it comes to fashion. Sweden-based label Minimarket is really hitting the mark when it comes to inspiring Autumn/Winter designs...

 

Everything's gone on all Rio Baile Funk on me!

A friend of mine introduced me to Rio Baile Funk a few years ago! Jiu Jitsu was the first tune I heard and it kind of reminded me of old skool rave only with Portugese lyrics - lol! Well...I've started to dust off those old MP3 files on my iPod and have been getting in touch with Baile Funk again! And then I discovered the above vid on YouTube...Rio Baile Funk samples and a whole lot of scratching with a European B-Boy flava...HOT! Some great summer tunes, especially if you can find the heat of Brazil to match. 

Hiroshi Awai...Japan's next top designer via Toronto!

Japs have always been noted for their inimitable style from the extreme outright wacky to minimalist chic. They wear fashion with a big bold statement, and more importantly, they dress for themselves and not because some style magazine or shop window has told them what to wear or look like. Individualism is key and I admire their adoption of the philosophy "I'll wear what I want, so if you don't like it, your loss", which makes for an outfit that they pull off with equal amounts of both style and attitude! 

Yes, we've all witnessed some stark fashions adorned by Japanese girls and women, but it is Japanese men who are often overlooked in the style stakes as a result. In my eyes, Japanese men are often some of the best  dressed. As a girl I've always loved the likes of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons, but they truly shine as menswear designers too. So for all you dapper dressing males out there who are influenced by Japanese designers and fashion, there's another guy on the scene worth checking out, Hiroshi Awai.

The Toronto-based director and Head Designer of CREEP clothing, Hiroshi combines innovative Japanese design with the simple functionality of American workwear. Check out his autumn/winter range...

I'm dreaming of a nice cupcake!!!

Rhubarb and custard cupcake from the Hummingbird Bakery...for that Friday sugar fix...bring it on!!!!!!!!!

Me gusta el hip hop de Puerto Rico

I grew up with hip hop - everything from A Tribe Called Quest, Big Daddy Kane, ODB, KRS-One to Mos Def - but as the genre morphed in to something more commercial and less raw, my affiliations started turning towards hip hop of other languages. Different instruments, beats and samples....and a whole new lot of lyrics to get to grips with. Ironic really given that my language skills stretch to Spanglish and Franglais :) So I went to see Puerto Ricans Calle 13 at Hackney Empire last week, and while I understood 20% of the lyrics (I also had a reliable Latin source providing subtitles), me gusta, me gusta!!!

Espresso de la Antipodean

They brought us the notorious Walkabout chain! But now the capital is seeing a rise in Antipodean-run coffee houses. They are a welcome treat from all the usual coffee chains, and a far cry from the shenanigans you'd expect to witness at your local Aussie drinking hole.

Aussies are noted for their humour, and when it comes to naming their coffee joints, they aren't scared to poke fun. Walking down Leather Lane Market then, I had to do a U-turn when I noticed The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs. Initially I ignored it thinking it was the local DSS (yeh I wasn't clocking the word "coffee" in the title), until I saw a couple of trendy nerds with their Apple laptops sat on a bench by the window.

Thankfully, The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs is a much more pleasurable experience than visiting the job club. It's a real treat from the interior - with its exposed brick walls and collection of artworks - to it's coffee.

And Aussies certainly take their coffee seriously. I opted for a legendary espresso and portugese tart, having missed out on the lunchtime sarnies.

But if you fancy a cafe that serves food with a twist, head for St Ali, another Antipodean coffee extraordinaire on Clerkenwell Road. Check out the mezze platter for a less than ordinary mediterranean fayre.

Lambs Conduit - it's not about the gym!

Two months into my freelance status and I've been relishing the time getting acquainted with my home town and its hidden gems - as you do when you've got more time but not much money (lol) on your hands.

Growing up in central London, I know the area like the back of my hands but with so much range and diversity in the big smoke, and things constantly changing, there's always somewhere new or something different to discover. Which brings me to Lambs Conduit Street in Bloomsbury. Funnily enough I went to sixth-form college near there but never took much note of the area - I had more important, youthful things on my mind then ;) I became reacquainted with this independent store-laden street after strolling along in search of a nearby gym with a special offer (aka Groupon deal).

What I love about this place is its village-like feel - and let's face it as a bonafide Zone 1 tart who rarely gets out of the capital other than to go somewhere overseas that's seriously hot or another bustling city - this is the closest I'm going to get to a village vibe for now.

I like the fact that Lambs Conduit has retained its independence - aside from the Starbucks, all you'll find here is independent designer stores, drinking dens, eateries and delis. It's edgy, creative and laidback without being too pretentious. My fave shop has to be Darkroom - a concept store selling accessories - and of course, poor old me fell in love with one of the most expensive items in the store - a red leather envelope bag by Lizzy Disney.

From red to green, sadly I had to settle for a 99p avocado (a rare Fuerte variety apparently) from The People's Supermarket instead. Oh yeh... I did make it to the gym two-hours, a cupcake and a coffee stop, serious window shopping and proscrastinating, later. I had to lie down in the steam room as I'd already exhausted all my energy ;)